ACPCU commissions Shs 1.5bln facility as it prepares to roast coffee
SHEEMA– In a bid to improve the value chain, Ankole Coffee Producer’s Cooperative Union [ ACPCU ] has begun preparations to roast its coffee on a large scale.
This was revealed over the weekend while the union was officially commissioning a pre-cleaning block that houses a plea cleaner and a destoner that cost ACPCU Shs 1.5 billion.
According to John Nuwagaba, General Manager, ACPCU got registered as a cooperative in 2006 but struggled to open doors to business as it only had Shs 1.5mln in 2008.
“We didn’t have money but we had farmers and they had coffee and goodwill to add value. We went to Bushenyi district and a certain SACCO gave us Shs10 mln which was not enough then. We went to ESCO non-bank financial service which gave us Shs100mln. From then we have never looked back and now our turnover is coming to Shs 30bln,” Nuwagaba explained.
The union has already installed a modern coffee testing laboratory worth Shs 200mln and ordered a coffee roaster from Germany at around Shs 200 mln.
Sam Mugabi Karugaba, Chairman ACPCU said the union will first tap into the local market, appealing government’s support to boost coffee roasting in Uganda.
“We appeal to the government that we have started the journey of adding value. We have ordered for a coffee roaster. But we feel our coffee should first be consumed locally, then regionally, as we plan to reach the international market. We want our coffee to be consumed by government institutions, which is in line with the government policy of Buy Uganda Build Uganda,” he said.
Minister Mwebesa commended ACPCU for the journey they have embarked on to start coffee roasting.
He encouraged ACPCU to focus on quality, assuring them of a ready market, for instance, supermarkets.
“You know our supermarkets do sell coffee from abroad but endeavour to make sure that our local people don’t buy Nescafe. Maintain the quality. I can assure you that getting the market won’t be a problem,” Mwebesa said, adding that Turkish supermarkets sell coffee products that come from Uganda and many other African countries.
The minister also introduced international investors to partner with APCU in securing the international market for the Ugandan roasted coffee.
“These two gentlemen come from the international world and their countries consume a lot of coffee. Since you are nearer to us get us to the international market and promote us,” he said.
Bubulo East Member of Parliament John Musila who doubles as Vice-chairman OF Bugisu Cooperative Union [BCU]was moved by ACPCU’s extraordinary developments, saying they would emulate ACPCU.
“I am surprised by what is being done at ACPCU just on a small piece of land where magnificent coffee developments are going on. For us, we have a big chunk of land but we have nothing to show for it. So we must come back here as leaders from Bugisu Cooperative Union to learn the magic bullet ACPCU has utilised to reach where they are now,” Musila said.
ACPCU which started with only 10 member primary cooperative societies with 3500 members has grown to 26 member primary cooperative societies with a membership of 15,895 in the Greater Ankole Sub-region.
https://thecooperator.news/acpcu-registers-over-shs-1bln-profit-in-fy-2021-22/
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